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For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.

About the Foundation

Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. The SDX Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.

Excellence in Journalism 2016Sept 7-9, 2017 – Anaheim

Excellence in Journalism is the national journalism conference of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Join us in September in Anaheim for training, networking, workshops and more!

SPJ Leads

SPJ News

SPJ Blogs: Newest Posts

Quill Headlines

Journalist's Toolbox

@SPJ_Tweets

Connect with SPJ

SPJ on Facebook

Upcoming Eventsand Deadlines

Become an SPJ Member

For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.

About the Foundation

Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. The SDX Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.

Excellence in Journalism 2016Sept 7-9, 2017 – Anaheim

Excellence in Journalism is the national journalism conference of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Join us in September in Anaheim for training, networking, workshops and more!

FOI CommitteeThis committee is the watchdog of press freedoms across the nation. It relies upon a network of volunteers in each state organized under Project Sunshine. These SPJ members are on the front lines for assaults to the First Amendment and when lawmakers attempt to restrict the public's access to documents and the government's business. The committee often is called upon to intervene in instances where the media is restricted.

Freedom of Information Committee Chair

Gideon Grudo
Digital Platforms Editor
Air Force MagazineE-mail @ggrudoBio (click to expand)
Grudo is currently the digital platforms editor at Air Force Magazine, a DC-based, independent monthly. He was previously on the board of SPJ DC and on the national SPJ board. Before moving to DC in 2013, Grudo was editor of South Florida Gay News and worked on the board of SPJ Florida, spearheading multiple programs on a national level and helping run related conventions.

For more than a century, SPJ has been fighting for a free press and teaching students about the First Amendment. Now SPJ is offering $250 grants to student chapters willing to host a unique educational event thats literally a food fight.

The First Amendment Free Food Festival (FAFFF) is an award-winning event recently featured on national television. Heres how it works...

Students symbolically sign away their First Amendment rights in exchange for a free lunch. While they wait their food, a goon squad bans all talking in line (because theres no freedom of speech).

Congratulations to our 2010-2011 grant recipients!
The following campus chapters received First Amendment Free Food Festival Grants from SPJ. The program will be held during Fall 2010 and Spring 2011:

 Indiana University-Bloomington
 Indiana University/Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
 Southeast Missouri State University
 Southern Methodist University
 University of Florida
 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
 University of Arkansas
 University of Maryland
 Western Kentucky University
 Western Washington University

Want more information?
FAFFF creators Michael Koretzky and Michele Boyet, from SPJs South Florida Pro Chapter, provide more details at koretzky.com/free. If you have questions, email Koretzky at michael@koretzky.com

Once students get their food, they cant sit together (no right to peaceably assemble). And if they dont like their food, goons point them to an empty complaint table (no right to petition for the redress of grievances).

All the while, the goon squad is rousting student prayer circles (no freedom of religion) and even reporters trying to cover the event (no freedom of the press).

Since it was created in 2006, more than 20 FAFFFs have been hosted around the country  the majority by SPJ chapters. That includes the 2009 Student Chapter of the Year at the University of Florida, which has made the FAFFF an annual event.

SPJ will award $250 grants to 10 chapters who want to host an FAFFF on their own campuses. While theres no deadline to apply, you must host your FAFFF by May 31, 2011. Once all the grant money has been awarded, we will stop taking applications. Chapters will submit their receipts and be reimbursed after the program. Along with the receipts, each grant-awarded chapter will submit a one-page recap following the program.

The money can be used as reimbursement for food, props, and promotions  although SPJ can give you oodles of good advice on how to raise more money from other places and how to save money in some novel ways.

FAFFF creators Michael Koretzky and Michele Boyet, from SPJs South Florida Pro Chapter, provide more details at koretzky.com/free. If you have questions, email Koretzky at michael@koretzky.com.

Stay in TouchYour Right to KnowFind FOI in your state

Get in touch with the Sunshine chair or chairs in your state and find FOI Centers, quotable sources, resources and more by using the menu below.

FOI CommitteeThis committee is the watchdog of press freedoms across the nation. It relies upon a network of volunteers in each state organized under Project Sunshine. These SPJ members are on the front lines for assaults to the First Amendment and when lawmakers attempt to restrict the public's access to documents and the government's business. The committee often is called upon to intervene in instances where the media is restricted.